Quintessence Cabernet Sauvignon
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 15 years from the vintage release, as its formidable structure softens beautifully with age.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted rack of lamb, braised beef short ribs
✨ Technical Specifications
The Quintessence Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Fidelitas represents a masterclass in Red Mountain terroir. Situated on the steep, south-facing slopes of Washington State's smallest and warmest AVA, the Quintessence Vineyard is celebrated for its gravelly, calcium carbonate-rich soils. Here, the vines endure intense daytime heat, tempered by cool evening winds cascading down the Yakima Valley. This dramatic diurnal shift allows the grapes to develop thick skins, yielding a Cabernet Sauvignon of remarkable concentration, deep color, and robust, dusty tannins. Under the skilled hand of winemaker Charlie Hoppes, this wine is crafted to showcase the raw power and structural elegance of the site, utilizing premium French oak to refine its bold profile of dark currants, black cherry, and crushed stone minerality. It stands as a testament to the world-class potential of Washington Cabernet.
🍾 About the Producer
Fidélitas was founded in 2000 by veteran Washington winemaker Charlie Hoppes, formerly the head red winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle. Joined by his son Will Hoppes, the winery embodies an unyielding dedication to Bordeaux grape varieties cultivated exclusively within Washington State's prestigious Red Mountain AVA. Situated on warm, southwest-facing slopes, the region's intense sunlight, fierce winds, poor gravelly loam soils, and profound diurnal temperature fluctuations foster thick-skinned berries with formidable concentration and natural acidity. The estate vineyard, first planted in 2008 and farmed sustainably with Sustainable WA certification, is complemented by premier fruit partnerships with iconic sites such as Ciel du Cheval and Quintessence. Winemaking employs micro-lot fermentations in oak and neutral barrels, yielding structured, deeply expressive wines. The estate's benchmark portfolio is anchored by the flagship Optu Red and Optu White blends, vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignons, and varietal Malbecs.
🍇 Grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon